In Europe, cars and other vehicles with diesel engines are very common. They tend to get better fuel economy and diesel is at times cheaper than gasoline. With more and more drivers in the U.S. focused on green cars and fuel economy, America may finally be ready to embrace the diesel engine.

There are several car companies now looking to place diesel engines into cars and SUVs that traditionally used gasoline only. BMW is a good example; the company is readying a version of its M5 that uses a diesel engine. GM is also onboard with a diesel version of its popular Chevrolet Cruze compact sedan.

Now Mazda has announced plans to bring its Skyactiv-D diesel engine to the U.S. car market by 2014. Mazda thinks that the engine will help it stand out among the hybrids. The Skyactiv-D engine is a 2.2L four cylinder with 173hp and 310lb/ft of torque.

"We think it's a good differentiator," said Jim O'Sullivan, CEO of Mazda North American Operations, to Automotive News during the Detroit auto show. It will give Mazda a reputation that "Those guys are always doing something a little different."

The diesel engine is expected to find its way into the CX-5 crossover SUV and the Mazda6 sedan. The Mazda6 sedan is only expected to get diesel power in some markets and it's not clear if the U.S. is one of those markets. Mazda is eyeing VW in the States since VW is the only carmaker at the price point with a diesel option courtesy of the Passat TDI.

"Volkswagen, I honestly believe, gets incremental business above and beyond other brands because they do have a diesel, and they buy Volkswagens only because they do have it," said O'Sullivan.

Volkswagen USA just had a banner year in 2011. Year to year December sales where up over 36%. The year overall will see record sales in the US. The diesel Jetta and Passat where particularly bright points. The new Beetle will again be available with the 2.0TDI in the coming months.

I would agree that a TDI Tiquan would be nice, but from what I hear that is not in the cards. A future US-made crossover to replace the Tiquan here will almost certainly feature diesel power though.